Julian's breathing grew shallow as he pressed forward, the sting of exhaustion burning in his muscles. The mountains had fallen behind him, but the silence of the wilderness was far heavier than the climb itself. The only sound was the crunch of his boots against the dry earth and the faint whistle of wind curling around his cloak.
He slowed for a moment, resting his palm on the rough bark of a twisted tree. The air was still—too still. Even the usual rustle of wildlife was absent, as though the entire forest had been holding its breath.
Julian's hand drifted to the hilt of his sword. He whispered to himself, "Something's wrong."
The ground beneath him shifted ever so slightly, as if the soil carried a hidden pulse. His instincts screamed danger, but no enemy revealed itself. Instead, he felt it—an oppressive presence hanging in the air, like mana being drawn in unnatural currents.
He forced his breathing steady and began channeling wind mana to sharpen his senses. The faint vibrations grew clearer: not footsteps, but something heavier, dragging… sliding… circling.
Julian's eyes darted through the trees, but nothing stirred. He crouched low, using the faint gusts he conjured to mask his movements. Every shadow looked alive, every stone seemed ready to split open.
And then, a sound—soft, deliberate—like claws raking against stone. It came from ahead, right along the path the group's wagon had taken. His heartbeat quickened. Were they already attacked? Or was this thing waiting for stragglers… waiting for him?
Julian clenched his jaw and pushed forward, every step laced with caution. He knew one thing: whatever was out there, it had been watching him for longer than he realized.
Julian moved cautiously, each step measured, his senses straining. The dragging, sliding sound grew louder, accompanied now by a faint, metallic clink—like claws scraping stone and metal combined. His grip on the hilt of his sword tightened; wind mana swirled lightly around him, lifting his cloak just enough to warn him of the slightest movement.
Then, it appeared. Not at first fully—just a shadow, a massive shape blending with the trees, scales glinting faintly under the morning light. Its eyes—yellow and molten—locked onto Julian, and a low growl reverberated through the ground.
The creature stepped forward, revealing itself: a hybrid of cat and lizard, claws as long as Julian's forearm, tail tipped with jagged stone spikes, its skin a dark, mottled brown, almost camouflaged against the forest floor. Julian felt the raw power radiating from it; this was no ordinary predator. Its breathing was deep, each exhale sending tremors across the rocks.
Julian's muscles tensed. He spun his sword in his hand, channeling a concentrated gust of wind mana along the blade. "Alright… let's see what you're made of," he muttered under his breath.
The creature lunged with a speed that made the air itself shiver. Julian pivoted, letting wind carry him aside, but its tail lashed, smashing through a nearby tree. Shards of wood flew like shrapnel. Julian barely rolled clear, planting his feet to stabilize himself.
He struck back, slicing the wind around his blade into a concentrated vortex aimed at the beast's flank. The vortex tore through the underbrush, and the creature let out a roar, sparks flying from the contact between air and hardened scales. But it wasn't enough. It circled him, faster than he could track, each movement precise and calculating.
Julian had to adapt. He leapt onto a nearby rock, summoning a whirlwind beneath him, propelling him above the creature's line of attack. From above, he slammed down, channeling his mana into a spinning strike. The blade cut through the air, but the creature twisted mid-air, tail snapping just under his feet. He felt the vibration hit his boots, nearly throwing him off balance.
Breathing hard, Julian created a barrier of wind to deflect a second swipe. The beast's claws slammed against it, shaking him in place. It was strong… smarter than any wild animal he had hunted. He realized—this was a hunter, not prey.
With a deep breath, Julian made his next move. He focused his mana into the soles of his boots, launching himself high and far, landing directly behind the creature. Using the momentum, he drove the sword into its side, channeling wind into the blade. The vortex erupted inside the beast, sending it crashing to the ground, roaring in fury.
Before it could recover, Julian leapt atop its back, twisting the sword and sending a final concentrated surge of wind into its chest. The creature howled one last time, its massive body convulsing before finally lying still.
Julian leapt clear as it collapsed, breathing ragged, chest heaving, sweat mixing with blood and dirt. He knelt beside the beast, pulling the first glowing core from its chest—mana red and pulsing, radiating heat. He held it for a moment, whispering, "First… and not the last."
He glanced around, ears straining. The forest was silent again, but he knew better—this was only a warning. Danger was everywhere, and Julian had just survived the first test.